Ron Flowers
Posted on: Wed 17 Nov 2004
Edlington, near Doncaster was the birthplace of a man who was to captain both his club and his country in a glorious career that stretched for over 20 years in football. Ronald Flowers was born on the 28th July, 1934. His father played soccer at amateur level and his uncle had been a pro with Doncaster Rovers.
Ron played for first his own school, and then Doncaster schools as his career began to progress to his ultimate aim, playing football professionally. Sheffield Wednesday spotted his obvious talents and invited him for a trial but Ron wanted to play for his local favourites, Doncaster. Eventually the Yorkshire side gave him the opportunity he had longed for but, oddly enough, they didn't give him a chance to prove himself and they let him go. It was a decision they must have regretted many times.
Ron went on to play for a local working mens club side and it was then that he was spotted by Mark Crook, manager of Wolves junior side, Wath Wanderers, for whom Ron signed as a 16 year old. Within a year he was invited to Molineux and before very long he made his debut for the club in a Worcestershire Combination game. Two more months and Ron progressed to the Central League side before national service interrupted the rapid progress of his career. He served in the R.A.F. and became an aircraftman second class at Padgate before he was transferred to Hednesford. It was there that a sergeant informed him that he had been picked for Wolves first team for the following Saturday's game and that the RAF had given him permission to play. It was not a happy debut for Flowers though and despite scoring a goal, a header from a Johnny Hancocks corner, the young Yorkshire lad had a fraught initiation as Wolves were trounced 5-2 by a strong Blackpool side.
Ron was dropped for the following match at Chelsea but returned the week after that into a side that played some inspired football in beating Manchester United 6-2. He was to play eighteen more games that season (1952/53) learning his craft amid some of the finest footballers ever to wear gold and black. In the Championship winning season of 1953/54 Ron made 15 appearances then the following season, after missing the opening three games, he remained in the team wearing the four, five or six shirt for the rest of the term, scoring five goals along the way. The 20 year old youngster's international career also took off that season. He made two under 23 appearances, against Italy and Scotland, and then, in May of 1955, he was chosen for a tour, with the full squad, of France, Spain and Portugal. But he didn't enjoy the best of times on his full international debut, the side went down 1-0 to the French in Paris, and it was to be a further three years till he made it back into the England team.
The 1955/56 season saw Ron having to fight for his place with the regular partnership of Billy Wright, Eddie Clamp and Bill Slater restricting him to just nineteen appearances. But the next four years saw him miss just 38 games as Wolves plundered two League Championships, the Charity Shield and the FA Cup as well as making the club's debut in international competition. He also made it back into the England side, against Wales in 1958, for what was to be the first of 40 consecutive international appearances.
He was, ten years after making his international debut, a member of Alf Ramsey's squad that won the World Cup in 1966, although he didn't play in any of the six matches in that never to be forgotten competition. His last England appearance came just prior to the finals when he helped to beat Norway by 6-1 in a warm-up match. He denied that he was disappointed at not playing the in the finals saying that he never expected to even be a part of the squad in the first place - so it was a bonus when he was.
Strangely enough, on the eve of England's final with West Germany, big Jack Charlton went to bed early with a chill and Alf Ramsey told Ron that if Jack was still ill in the morning then he would take his place. But the Leeds defender did recover and Ron watched the game from the touchline.
Back to the domestic front and after Wolves cup victory in 1960 a decline in the club's fortunes began and despite third and fifth places in 1961 and 1963 respectively, the team succumbed to relegation at the end of the 1964/65 term. After two seasons in the second division promotion was achieved but, shortly after moving back into the top flight.
Ron left the club he had served so well and moved to Northampton Town. He spent two years there before winding up his career with Wellington Town, first as a player, then as acting manager. He ended his soccer days in 1971, the year he was granted a testimonial by Wolves, when over 21,000 turned up to pay tribute to a man who had served his club and country so well.
Ron then began a sports shop business, which is still a successful one, in the centre of the town, to this day.
WOLVES PLAYING CAREER 1946-1956
League Appearances 467 Goals 33
Cup Appearances 18(2) Goals 2 League Cup Appearances 31 Goals 4
European Games Appearances 11
Other Appearances 3
TOTAL APPEARANCES 512 GOALS 37
Ron played for first his own school, and then Doncaster schools as his career began to progress to his ultimate aim, playing football professionally. Sheffield Wednesday spotted his obvious talents and invited him for a trial but Ron wanted to play for his local favourites, Doncaster. Eventually the Yorkshire side gave him the opportunity he had longed for but, oddly enough, they didn't give him a chance to prove himself and they let him go. It was a decision they must have regretted many times.
Ron went on to play for a local working mens club side and it was then that he was spotted by Mark Crook, manager of Wolves junior side, Wath Wanderers, for whom Ron signed as a 16 year old. Within a year he was invited to Molineux and before very long he made his debut for the club in a Worcestershire Combination game. Two more months and Ron progressed to the Central League side before national service interrupted the rapid progress of his career. He served in the R.A.F. and became an aircraftman second class at Padgate before he was transferred to Hednesford. It was there that a sergeant informed him that he had been picked for Wolves first team for the following Saturday's game and that the RAF had given him permission to play. It was not a happy debut for Flowers though and despite scoring a goal, a header from a Johnny Hancocks corner, the young Yorkshire lad had a fraught initiation as Wolves were trounced 5-2 by a strong Blackpool side.
Ron was dropped for the following match at Chelsea but returned the week after that into a side that played some inspired football in beating Manchester United 6-2. He was to play eighteen more games that season (1952/53) learning his craft amid some of the finest footballers ever to wear gold and black. In the Championship winning season of 1953/54 Ron made 15 appearances then the following season, after missing the opening three games, he remained in the team wearing the four, five or six shirt for the rest of the term, scoring five goals along the way. The 20 year old youngster's international career also took off that season. He made two under 23 appearances, against Italy and Scotland, and then, in May of 1955, he was chosen for a tour, with the full squad, of France, Spain and Portugal. But he didn't enjoy the best of times on his full international debut, the side went down 1-0 to the French in Paris, and it was to be a further three years till he made it back into the England team.
The 1955/56 season saw Ron having to fight for his place with the regular partnership of Billy Wright, Eddie Clamp and Bill Slater restricting him to just nineteen appearances. But the next four years saw him miss just 38 games as Wolves plundered two League Championships, the Charity Shield and the FA Cup as well as making the club's debut in international competition. He also made it back into the England side, against Wales in 1958, for what was to be the first of 40 consecutive international appearances.
He was, ten years after making his international debut, a member of Alf Ramsey's squad that won the World Cup in 1966, although he didn't play in any of the six matches in that never to be forgotten competition. His last England appearance came just prior to the finals when he helped to beat Norway by 6-1 in a warm-up match. He denied that he was disappointed at not playing the in the finals saying that he never expected to even be a part of the squad in the first place - so it was a bonus when he was.
Strangely enough, on the eve of England's final with West Germany, big Jack Charlton went to bed early with a chill and Alf Ramsey told Ron that if Jack was still ill in the morning then he would take his place. But the Leeds defender did recover and Ron watched the game from the touchline.
Back to the domestic front and after Wolves cup victory in 1960 a decline in the club's fortunes began and despite third and fifth places in 1961 and 1963 respectively, the team succumbed to relegation at the end of the 1964/65 term. After two seasons in the second division promotion was achieved but, shortly after moving back into the top flight.
Ron left the club he had served so well and moved to Northampton Town. He spent two years there before winding up his career with Wellington Town, first as a player, then as acting manager. He ended his soccer days in 1971, the year he was granted a testimonial by Wolves, when over 21,000 turned up to pay tribute to a man who had served his club and country so well.
Ron then began a sports shop business, which is still a successful one, in the centre of the town, to this day.
WOLVES PLAYING CAREER 1946-1956
League Appearances 467 Goals 33
Cup Appearances 18(2) Goals 2 League Cup Appearances 31 Goals 4
European Games Appearances 11
Other Appearances 3
TOTAL APPEARANCES 512 GOALS 37
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